About St. Theresa School

"One Day," said the tall white-haired man in the Roman Collar, "we will have a school in this parish." He was the Rev. James F. Kelly, the first pastor of St. Theresa Church and he was talking with a visitor in the summer of 1929. As God willed it, the opening of the St. Theresa Parish School was not to be in Fr. Kelly's time.

It was twenty-seven years later that the Rev. Albert A. Pickney announced plans for a long awaited school fundraising campaign. In November of 1951, the Rev. Daniel L. Sullivan was appointed assistant pastor and shortly thereafter the first fund-raising event for the school, a highly successful card party, was held. Propelled by a volunteer committee of one hundred men, the campaign moved into high gear in November 1960. In less than two weeks the Memorial Gifts Committee announced pledges amounting to $100,000. One month later, the Church hall resounded with cheers as the Committee of one hundred reported that the school fund had reached a figure of $200,000. A few days after Thanksgiving Day morning in 1964, Fr. Kelly's dream was becoming a reality.

On September 9, of the following year, forty-four children comprising grades on through three skipped across the doorstep of the Briarcliff Manor Congregational Church Parish House, the temporary home of St. Theresa Parochial School for the year 1965-1966. Msgr. Roberts who was being transferred to the pastorate of St. Peter's Church in Manhattan, bid the children a bittersweet farewell on that first day of school in 1965, and the new pastor Msgr. Harrington extended to them a hearty welcome.

In September 1966, the school opened with a registration of 115 students in grades one through four. Hundreds of students have enrolled in St. Theresa's during the next eleven years.

In 1976, the school had an enrollment of 247 children and a faculty of ten full-time and six part-time teachers serving the eight grades. Among these were four Sisters of Charity.

Now, extra-curricular activities include an after-school program, sports, cheerleading, homework group, forensics, and chess club. Students enjoy and participate in a variety of activities, including, book fairs, cake sales, ball games, and carnivals. Proceeds from some are donated to charities.

Written by a student from Class of 2002

General Information

School Office Hours: 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM

School Hours:

8:00 AM to 2:30 PM Grades K through 8

9:00 AM to 11:45 AM PK-4

12:15 PM to 2:15 PM PK-3

After School Center Hours: 2:30 to 6:PM Grades PK-4 through 8